Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-05-20
THE ADDISON COUNTY TEACHERS.
Interesting Exercises ut their Institutc-
Address by Congressman Stewart.

auureSs by congressman stewart.
MIDDLEBuRY, Nav 1s.-A three days
institute for the teachers of Addison coun-
ty began here this morning under the di
rection of State Superintendent Justus
Dartt of Springfield. The attendance is
quite large.
The morning exercises were opened
with singing and prayer by Rev. Mr.. Pal
mer of Middlebury. Hon. John w. Stew
art, member of Congress, then delivered
the opening address.
Enthusiasm, Gov Stewart thought, was
the first requisite going to make
up II good teacher. He dwelt
generally upon the educational inter
ests and needs of the State and ma
ton. In the course of his remarks Mr..
Stewart explained the aim of the Blair
bill and gave the reason why it had not
passed through the House of Representa-
tlves. In his opinion, if the bill could
have been got to vote it would have gone
through the House by fOul-tfths major
ity. Mr.. Stewart illustrated telingly
some of the points of his address, especial
ly when he compared the methods of
teaching spelling nov in fashion with
those in vogue in earlier times. The gov
ernor thought that there ought to be a re-
form i'll some of the present methods of
teaching spelling.
The State superintendent then spoke
briefly of the objects OF the institute and
referred approvngly to some of the points
brought out in Congressman Stewards
remarks.
Rev. A. De F. Palmer. town superin-
tendent of schools, delivered an address
on Some Qualifications of Teacher
Necessary to Insure Success" Rev. Mr.
Palmer's address was Il thoroughly prac-
flcal one, and contained many valuable
suggestions, especially for young teachers
like the great majority of those present.
In the afternoon, after singing by sev-
eral young ladies of the Middlebury
school, Principal c. ID. Mead made some
remarks on the subject of geography, and
introduced a class of boys and girls from
the Middlebury school, and they went eX-
cellently through a geographical exercise,
which was illustrated by the use of small
globes and chart. The usefulness of
globes and maps in the schools was the
point which Mr.. Mead was trying to inn
press upon the minds of the teachers.
Next came an exercise in mental arth-
metic, conducted by Miss Julia A. Bond
of The Middlebury graded school, who in
troduced a class of boys and girls and
she wed what they could do in rapid men
tai calculation. They showed that they
understood the mysteries of the subject.
Miss Matte Mead of the Middlebury
school gave an exercise showing how
readily elementary music may by taught
to young pupils, even when the teacher is
not proficient musician. A class of Miss
Mead's young scholars gave an example
of what can be done in this direction. The
method employed is one which was
taught to the Middlebury teachers only a
few weeks ago, and Judging from results
it is most excellent one. The utmost in
terest was shown in this exercise by all
present.
Miss Florence Ford of the Middlebury
school gave an illustration of a method of
teaching the younger scholars by means
of figures, from which they learn by OBJ
servation and comparison, after the ob-
lective method, somewhat. The after
Moons programme was brought to a close
with dumb bell exercise, given by the
little pupils of Miss Hortense brakes
school. The exercise was very neatly and
deity performed.
To-morrow's programme will include
an exercise in physiology, with charts, by
Miss Matte Chaplin of Middlebury, scen-
tific temperance instruction by ladies of
the w. e. 7. T., assisted by Mrs. Mary f.
Hunt of Boston, addresses on several sub
jects bv DR.. w. a. Mowry of Boston, a
paper on Music as an Educator by f.
y. Hasseltine of Bristol, discussions on
various topics suggested by the papers
and addresses, and in the evening lee
! ture by DR.. Mowry on "The Public
School What for and What of 1t ~